Picturesque.

Not what I was expecting.

Adding Gail Carriger's to my list, possibly replacing Campbell.

Amy Deardon, Story Template, is very short and accessible. Good timeline of the energy turns and what needs to happen in each section so next section can do its job. Useful after the first draft and revision, and when analyzing a story, to find problems and what the author thinks are importnt turns.

I also like it for preparing a story to tell. First few readings are to enjoy and think about, but the serious work begins with identifying where the energy changes direction and why. That often shows subtleties that make a huge difference to the telling.

I ran a peer learning on it for storytelling guild. Several said they hated the idea. Then a few compared it to stories that couldn't possibly follow it, and reported back that they were wrong. Major turns happened on schedule.

I prefer Amy Deardon's Story Template. It's more flexible. Yes, it's useful after the first draft. Too long an intro, first section not doing all its jobs, too long after final resolutions. All are easy to fix, but only if you realize the problem.

So I don't have to drag it into the new year? I finally started it last year, after hearing so many good things about it, but so far it's really annoying. The parts I once would have loved (other cultures and stories) I now don't trust him on.

Home-made granola, and milk. Should I be scared? Lunch is leftover chicken and veg, maybe something else for filler. Yeah, I'm scared.

(I can write a mini-essay, but won't, based on 30-year-old intro courses in biochemistry and organic chemistry.)

I remember when all fats were bad. Then the tests got better and they found LDL and HDL. A few years ago they found LDL has 3 types, 2 of which are lousy and one good, and HDL has 3 types, 2 of which are happy and one lousy. (Mnemonics courtesy of my dr.)

Full fat cheese has saturated fats.
Will they please make up their minds!
(Maybe biology is complicated.)

That's a bit excessive. One for location, maybe a second if it needs one further out. One with something for scale. Maybe one more for more info. Five is excessive.

It might be needed as evidence; better safe than sorry. Dog owners, especially for dogs with tummy troubles, often forget non-owners aren't desensitized to it. (My kid got such a dog recently. Well, it's their dog when they're not working.)

I care that they think I'm a good person, and give me the benefit of the doubt when I misstep, and I care that they like me enough to work with me and respect my knowledge and skills. Other than that? No. The people who don't like me aren't worth changing for.

I can lose a paper in 2 minutes between putting it down and wanting to see it again. Very annoying talent.

Are there other things that eat the same size roach? That's much less fun than explaining about kaiju mantises, but might be faster.

Yes please! (I suspect, though, I already know the step I fail at: Staying in touch.)

It's also a numbers game. People who are good at meeting people are more likely to a) know people who become famous and b) be the type of person others (famous or not) enjoy being with.

Much of the fun of Writing Excuses is the hosts enjoying each others company.